SAIC Celebrated 80 Years of Fashion Innovation at THE WALK 2014

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) 
celebrated 80 years of fashion innovation at THE WALK 2014 on Friday May 2, 2014 at Millennium Park Chase Promenade North and Harris Theater’s Rooftop Terrace. This annual benefit gala supports the production of student work and scholarships and serves as 
the premier fundraiser for SAIC and the Fashion Design department. The day started with three runway shows at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m. which attracted over 
1500 attendees.
 I attended the 3 p.m. show and I was extremely impressed by the SAIC Fashion Design department’s collaboration with the Department of
 Architecture, Interior Architecture and Designed Objects. Together they developed the overall look of the presentation which transformed the tent at Millennium Park to a beautifully lit, sculptural open setting for the runway show. Equally impressive were the 250 student-designed looks that showcased a combination of painting, sculpture,
 performance, sound, body, installation and technology. The time, effort, innovation and constructions of the designers’ work was apparent with each piece shown on the runway. Seniors in SAIC’s Fashion Design department created complete collections of five garments, juniors 
showed three complete designs from their collections, and each sophomore presented one avant garde 
look in muslin.

THE WALK 2014 began at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception for 500 attendees that led into a runway show featuring 
Acclaimed artist, fashion influencer and SAIC educator Nick Cave’s special performances at 6:30 p.m., followed by student awards and scholarships and the Legend
 of Fashion presentation. Nick Cave was recognized as the Legend of
 Fashion and entertained a captive audience with a four-part new hybrid piece melding art, dance,
 performance and fashion.

Over a dozen scholarships were awarded to students including the Council of Fashion Designers of
 America 2014 CFDA People’s Choice/Teen Vogue Scholarship to sophomore Franky Tran; the Perry
Ellis Scholarship to senior Rosa Halpern; the Ungaro Scholarship to senior Margaux Franco; and the
 Sage Foundation Scholarship to senior Jeehye Kim. Guests included E! Fashion Police co-host George Kotsiopoulos and Creatures of 
the Wind designers Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters.

The evening concluded with a strolling dinner at 8 p.m. at Harris Theater’s Rooftop
Terrace. – Carol Calacci Photos: Courtesy School of the Art Institute of Chicago by Robert F. Carl